In a surprising twist, Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nominee, made headlines by using Bitcoin to buy hamburgers at a New York City bar famous for accepting cryptocurrency. This move marks a significant shift for the former president, who previously criticized Bitcoin as a “scam” and claimed crypto was “based on thin air.” The event, captured on video, showed Trump distributing burgers to attendees, which he called “crypto burgers.”
The transaction occurred just two days after Trump’s family launched a token through World Liberty Financial, a crypto platform. This public embrace of Bitcoin is notable, especially given Trump’s past stance. The bar’s staff declined to confirm whether the purchase was made using the Lightning Network.
Trump, who reportedly holds over $1 million in crypto, has gradually integrated cryptocurrency into his 2024 campaign. He also spoke at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, signaling growing support for the digital asset.
While Trump has incorporated crypto into his campaign, his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, has yet to focus on the issue. However, a political action committee supporting her has accepted contributions in cryptocurrency, leaving some experts to speculate on the future of crypto policies under a potential Harris administration.
As the election draws closer, Trump’s surprising use of Bitcoin is certain to fuel debate on the role of crypto in U.S. politics.